Radio program timing clock



March 25 1940- w. A. FARRELL ET Al. 2,195,298

RADIO PROGRAM TIMING CLOCK Filed Aug. l, 1938 6 Shee'tS-Sheet 1 21M Wem Mz, ATTORNEY.

March 2s, 1949. w A FARRELL Er AL 2,195,298

RADIO PROGRAM TIMING CLOCK Filed Aug. 1, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ///////////////////////7/////////////ywww"MMM/'7 March 26, 1940. w. A. FARRELL Er AL RADIO PROGRAM TIMING CLOCK Filed Aug. l, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEY.

March 26, 1940. w' A FARRELL ET AL 2,195,298

RADIO PROGRAM TIMING CLOCK Filed Aug. 1, 19558 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS IVe/fer Far/'d/ /Vorman A. [4f/Wiens and BY omda/y, ca/l/m/f.

ATTORNEY.

March 26, 1940. w. A, FARRELL Er AL RADIO PROGRAM TIMING CLOCK e sheets-sheet 5 Filed Aug. l, 1938 mm ATTORNEY.

March 26, 1940.

w. A. FARRELL l-:T AL 2,195,298

RADIO ROGRAM TIMING CLOCK Filed Aug. l, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6' i y 27.5' 320 322 J r6 i l INVENTORS Wa/er u /V un 'ours d /Z/ BY a/:ZM Cal/394;. 4,0/ Wwf MKM ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,195,298 RADIO lPROGRAM TIMING Walter A. Farrell, Miamisburg,

Norman n R.

Williams, Dayton, and David M. Calihan, West Carrollton. Ohio Application Alllllt 1, 1938, Serial N0. 222,320

Claims.

'I'his invention relates to clock operated mechanlsm for timing electrical circuits, and is particularly adapted for automatically turning on a radio receiver, or similar device, at a pre- 8 selected time and turning it oil when the desired time has elapsed.

It is the constant experience of many radio listeners that, although they may fully intend to tune in a desired program which is yet several hours distant, unless they exercise considerable care, and spend considerable time watching the clock, part or all of the program is often over before the intention is again recalled.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a quickly and easily adjusted mechanism which will complete the electrical circuit to start a radio receiver at a predetermined manually selected time.

It has been a further experience of radio listeners that when a desired program comes to an end, they are often so situated that it is highly inconvenient to immediately turn of! the receiver, with the result that they must often continue to hear matter in which they have not the slightest interest until they are in a position to more conveniently shut it oil'.

It is therefore another object of this invention to so construct the mechanism that it will instantly turn off a radio receiver set when a selected period of time, from the time at which it started, has elapsed.

Inasmuch as radio programs are substantially always limited to quarter hour periods, or to even multiples thereof, it is a further object of this invention to arrange the mechanism to facilitate manual selectivity by providing means operable to a single position to determine both the starting time and the duration period.

Another object is to provide clock operated 40 electrical switch mechanism with adjusting means whereby the time of operation may be accurately controlled.

Further objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention apper- 45 tains as the invention is further described with proper reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the device showing the face of the clock and the manually selective controls for determining the starting time and the duration of the electrical circuit.

Fig. 2 is a view looking from the top, part being a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, through the axes of the clock and clock operated switches and of the hour and minute (Cl. o-37) controls, the remainder being a plan view seen from the line 2a-2a.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section viewed from the rear, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 thereby showing the clock operated hour switch mechanism, the main switch, the manually selective liour control, and the manually selective quarter hour control.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section viewed from the rear, the section being taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, thereby showing the clock operated main quarter hour switch mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section viewed from the rear, the section being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, thereby showing the clock operated auxiliary quarter hour switch mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view, looking from the line 8-6 of Fig. 2, showing the rotatable contact mechanism whereby electric current is conveyed from the rotatable auxiliary quarter hour switch to a non-rotatable member.

Fig. 7 is a section taken at 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing the same contact mechanism shown in Fig. 6 but from a diierent angle.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the rear panel, viewed from the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing two switch mechanisms, one manually and the other electrically operated, both cooperating with the clock operated electrical switches to eect making and breaking of the circuits.

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of the device including a complete wiring diagram showing the various circuits to be made under different conditions of operation.

A given part is referred to by the same numeral in all views in which it appears.

Construction To facilitate the mounting of a plurality of parts which must be electrically insulated one from the other, the cabinet I0 is preferably made of some form of insulating material, preferably molded plastic, wood, glass, or the like. It comprises a base I2 with feet Il, end walls I4, top cover i6, front panel I8, and rear panel 20. For purposes of inspection and assembly the rear panel may be hinged to the base preferably at 22 (see Fig. 8). A snap fastener 24 may be provided to hold the rear panel 20 closed. A small knob 25 may be provided to more conveniently pull the panel to open position.

Mounted on the inside of the front panel I8 and extending partway through an opening 26 therein is a twelve hour clock 28 having the'usual hour hand 30 and minute hand 32. The clock works may be of any known type mechanically or electrically operated, and since this matter is immaterial to the invention, the clock works are not shown. Whatever their nature, they may be enclosed in a clock case 34 having ears 36 through which screws 38 may extend to hold the clock secured to the inside of the front panel i8. A clock dial 39 and a crystal 4| are sprung into appropriately formed grooves in the interior oi' an annular rib 43 extending from the front panel forwardly.

Whatever the nature of the clock works it should have the usual central minute hand shaft 40 to which the minute hand is secured and which rotates one revolution per hour and the usual twelve to one speed reducing gearing comprising a pinion 42 on the minute hand shaft, a large gear 44 on stud 46, a pinion 48 secured to the large gear 44 to rotate therewith and a large gear 50 on the hour hand sleeve 52 by which the hour hand is rotated.

Immediately rearward of the clock case 34 is the clock operated hour switch (see Fig. 3), the operating arm 54 which must rotate at the same speed as the hour hand 30 of the clock, that is one revolution in twelve hours. The means provided for rotating this switch operating arm at hour hand speed comprises a sleeve 56 runningly tted to the minute hand shaft and driven by the minute hand shaft through a speed reducing gear train which is a duplicate of the one previously described for rotating the hour hand. that is, this gear train also comprises a pinion 42 fastened to the minute hand shaft 40, a large gear 44 on a stud 48, a pinion 48 secured to the large gear 44, and a large gear on the sleeve 56.

Twelve segmental contact members numbered consecutively from 51 to 68 are circumferentially v equally spaced and insulatedly supported on the hour switch base 10. The base 10 is preferably made of insulating material and the contact members 51 to 68 may be secured thereto, each by a single rivet 12 drawn reasonably tight, but not so tight but that the contact members may be swung about the rivet, using it as a hinge pin.

Each contact segment 51 to 68 has a laterally extending ear 14, tapped for an adjusting screw 16. Bearing caps 18 held to the insulating base 10 by rivets 80 provide rotative bearing for the adjusting screws and prevent axial movement thereof.

The hour switch contact blade 82 is hinged to the end of the operating arm 54 by the hinge pin 84. A contact roller 86 is rotatably supported on a stud 88 at one end of the blade 82. The roller 86 has an annular groove around its periphery wide enough to fit the thickness of the contact segments 51 to 68 loosely. The end of the blade 82 opposite the roller is bent over to provide an ear 90. One end of a coil spring 92 is hooked through a hole in the ear 80, the other end being hooked through a hole in the extension 94 of the operating arm 54. The spring 92 should have sufficient tension to keep the roller 8,6 pressed securely against the contact segments as the operating arm 54 rotates. Rotation is in the direction of the arrow 96.

The central opening 98 of the base 10 is of such diameter that the contact segments extend over the edge of the opening considerably thereby preventing any interference of the roller 86 with the base.

If, during rotation, the roller 86 leaves the end |00 of any Contact segment 51 to 68 several minutes too soon, as may happen due to inaccuracy of workmanship in the positioning of the segments the ends |00 may be adjusted inwardly with the screws 16, whereby the roller 86 may be made to leave that particular segment several minutes later. This is important because the roller 86 should leave each segment 51 to 68 at exactly the time that the minute hand points to twelve. The clock operated hour switch may be broadly designated by the numeral |0|.

Rearward of the hour switch is the main quarter hour switch (see Fig. 4), the operating arm |02 of which must rotate at the same speed as the minute hand, that is, one revolution in one hour. To compel rotation of the arm |02 with the minute shaft 40, the arm is securely clamped between two internally threaded collars |03 which are closely fitted to the external threads on the shaft.

Four contact segments |04, |05, |06, and |01 are circumferentially equally spaced and insulatedly supported on the main quarter hour switch base |08. The base |08 is preferably made of insulation, the contact segments each being hingedly held thereon by a rivet ||0. Ears 2, extending laterally from the contact segments |04 to |01, are tapped to receive the adjusting screws ||4, which are rotatably supported in the bearing caps I5, which are in turn secured to the base |08 by rivets ||8. Adjustment of the contact segments of the main quarter hour switch is accomplished in the same manner as described relative to the hour switch and vfor the same reason.

The main quarter hour switch contact blade |20 is hinged to the end of the operating arm |02 by the hinge pin |22. A contact roller |24 is rotatably supported on a stud |26 at one end of the blade |20. The roller |24 has an annular groove around its periphery which fits over the edge of the contact segments |04 to |01 freely. The end of the blade opposite the roller is bent over to provide an ear |28. One end of a coil spring |30 is hooked into a hole in ear |28, the other end being hooked into a hole in the extension |32 of the operating arm |02. The spring |30 should keep the roller |24 firmly in contact with the segments |04 to |01. Rotation is in the direction of the arrow |34. The clock operated main quarter hour switch may be broadly designated by the numeral |35.

Relative to the hour switch |0|, Fig. 3, and the main quarter hour switch |35, Fig. 4, it should be noted that the minute shaft 40, the operating arms 54 and 02, the contact blades 82 and 20, and the contact rollers 86 and |24 are all made of electrically conductive material and are all in electrical communication, one with the other, whereby an electrical circuit is always possible from any of the hour contact segments 51 to 68 upon which the roller 86 rests to any main quarter hour contact segment |04 to |01 upon which the roller |24 rests.

Immediately rearward of the main quarter hour switch shown in Fig. 4 is the auxiliary quarter hour switch (see Fig. 5), the operating arm |36 of which is made of insulating material. The arm |36 is secured to the minute shaft 40 for rotation therewith by clamping it between the two tapped collars |38 which fit the external threads on the shaft.

Four contact segments |39, |40, |4l, and |42 are hingedly supported on the insulation base |43 by the rivets |44. Tapped ears |46 on the contact segments receive adjusting screws |48 which are rotatable in caps |50 fastened to the base |43 by rivets |52. Adjustment'of the auxiliary quarter hour contact segments is effected by the screws |46 in the same manner and for the same reasons as explained relative to the hour switch.

'Ihe auxiliary quarter hour switch contact blade |64 is hinged to the end of the operating arm |36 by the hinge pin |56. A contact roller |56 is rotatably supported on a stud |66 at one end of the blade |54. The roller |56 has an annular groove which receives the edges of the contact segments |39 to |42 freely. 'Ihe end of the blade opposite the roller is bent to provide an ear |62. One end of a coil spring |64 is hooked into a hole in the ear |62, the other end being hooked in a hole in the end oi.' a laterally projecting arm |66 of the U shaped spring conductor |66 (see Figs. 6 and 7).

The U shaped conductor |66 has one end secured to the insulation arm |36 by rivets |16.

'I'he other end extends axially at |12 and again' radially at |14 to make contact with the surface of the contact blade |54. A metal pin |16 is pointed at the end, the pointed end extending into a corresponding opening in the U shaped conductor |66. The other end of pin |16 is shouldered and riveted into a T shaped conductor |16 (see Figs. 2, 6, and 7). A coil spring |66 has one end hooked into a hole in the end of conductor |16, the other end being hooked into a hole in an anchor strip |62. Rotation of the switch is in the direction of the arrow |6|.

The clock operated auxiliary quarter hour switch may be broadly designated by the numeral |63.

Intermediate the main quarter hour switch base |66 and the auxiliary quarter hour switch base |43 is a bearing plate of insulation |64 with a small center hole runningly fitted around a co1- lar on the minute shaft 46 whereby the shaft is steadied at its free end. Four long screws |66 extend through the switch bases 16, |66, and |43, the bearing plate |64, the conductor |16, and the anchor strip |62 into the front panel |6 of the cabinet |6 to support the several parts in proper alignment. Spacing sleeves |66, |66, |92, |94, and |96 hold the several parts properly spaced apart.

Since the operating arm |36 of the auxiliary quarter hour switch |63 is made of insulating material, obviously an electrical circuit may be completed by this switch only through the T v shaped conductor |16, through pin |16, U shaped conductor |66, blade |54, roller |56 to whichever of the four contact segments |39 to |42 the roller is then touching.

Extending forwardly through the front panel I6 is the shaft |96 of the manually operable hour control switch. A hub 266 provides increased bearing length for the shaft. A hand knob 262 is secured to the outer end of the shaft by the pin 264 to facilitate manual rotation of the shaft.

Within the cabinet I6 on the inner end of the shaft |96 is the arm 266 which carries the contact plunger 266. A series of twelve contacts, numbered 2| 6 to 22| inclusive, in the rear face of the front panel |6 are circumferentially equally spaced and concentric with the shaft |96 (see Fig. 3).

A compression spring 222 urges the plunger 266 always against any contact with which it may be aligned, (see Fig. 2).

The twelve contacts 2|6 to 22| are connected respectively, each by a separate wire, to the twelve hour-switch contact segments 51 to 66.

For clearness in illustration, the wires connecting these parts are not shown in Figs. 2 or 3, but are clearly shown in the complete wiring diagram Fig. 9. In order to make sure 4that the wires will not interfere with the rotation of the arm 266 and plunger 266, a series of grooves may be molded or otherwise provided in the inner face of the front panel I6. Such grooves may take a. form as at 224, Fig. 2, the wire, such as shown at 226 being laid in the groove and the end pushed through a cross hole through the contacts 2|6 to 22| where it may be soldered to insure proper electrical connection. The manually operable hour control switch may be broadly designated by the numeral 221.

Also extending forwardly through the front panel |6 is the shaft 226 of the manually operable quarter hour control switch. A hub 236 provides increased bearing length for the shaft.

A hand knob 232 is secured to the outer end of the shaft by the pin 234 to facilitate manual rotation of the shaft.

Within the cabinet I6, on the inner end of the shaft 226, is the arm 236, which carries a series of four contact plungers 231, 236, 239, and 246 (see Fig. 3). The plungers 231 to 246 are exactly like the plunger 266 previously described and are each provided with a compression spring 222.

'Ihe quarter hour plungers 231 to 246 although exactly like the hour plunger 266 are each given a diii'erent numeral to facilitate tracing of the circuits when they are hereinafter described.

A series of forty contacts in the front panel |6 are arranged, as shown in Fig. 3, in four circular rows. The outer row has only four contacts, the next to the outer row has twelve, the next to the inner row has sixteen, and the inner row has eight. The four plungers 231 to 246 are radially positioned in the arm 236 to correspond respectively with the radii of the four rows. The forty contacts are numbered consecutively from 24| to 266 inclusive.

Electrically conductive wires join groups of the contacts 24| to 266 together, the groups being in turn connected by wires to the contact segments |64 to |61 of the main quarter hour switch |35 and the contact segments |39 to |42 of the auxiliary quarter hour switch |63. The conductive wires are shown only on the wiring diagram Fig. 9. They may be joined to the quarter hour contacts 24| to 266 by laying them in apprepriate grooves (not shown) in the rear face of the front panel |6 and threading them through cross holes in the contacts in a manner as described relative to the hour contacts 2|6 to 22|. The manually operable quarter hour control switch may be broadly designated by the numeral 26|.

A main manually controllable switch is provided on the front panel I6. A shaft 262 extends through the panel and through the hub 264, having rotative bearing therein. A knob 266 is secured to the outer end of the shaft for manual rotation thereof.

An arm 266 contains a plunger 296 which is urged toward the panel and into electrical cornmunication with a single contact 292 by a compression spring 222. Stop pins 294 define the on and off positions of the switch. The main manually controllable switch may be broadly designated by the numeral 29|. It is normally closed but may be conveniently opened to break the circuit when it is desired to discontinue operation before the selected period has expired.

The three knobs 266, 262, and 232 are provided with pointers 261, 263, and 233 respectively. The

two positions of the main control switch are indicated by placing the words on and off on the front of the cabinet (see Fig. l).

Concentrlcally surrounding the hour control knob 202 on the front of the cabinet are a series of circumferentially equally spaced numerals 1 to l2 positioned to correspond to the hour positions of the clock dial. For ornamental reasons only these numerals may be placed within circular panels as at 205. The numeral to which the pointer 203 is directed will be the hour within which the mechanism becomes operative.

Concentrically surrounding the quarter hour control knob 232 are a series of numerals arranged in four groups, each group comprising the numerals l5, 30, 45, and 60. To more clearly separate the numerals comprising a group, the raised segmental panels 235, 231, 239, and 24| may be provided.

If the pointer 233 is directed at any one of the four numerals in group 235, the device will become operative on the even hour. If it points to any numeral in group 231, operation will begin at quarter past the hour. If it points to any numeral in group 239, operation will begin at half past, and if it points to any numeral in group 24|, operation will begin at three quarters after the hour.

The group selected determines the quarter hour at which the device becomes operative, while the numeral within that group indicated by the pointer 233, determines the number of minutes the device will remain operative.

On the rear panel 20 (see Fig. 8) is a manually and magnetically operated switch mechanism for controlling the device. A bar 296 of electrically conductive material is fulcrumed on a screw stud 298. Hubs 300 extending laterally from the bar increase the bearing length on the stud. The stud is fitted tightly and against rotation in the hub 302 which is of insulating material and extends forwardly from the face of the panel. A screw 303 is provided for making electrical contact with the bar.

Positioned for making electrical contact with one end of the bar 296 is the curved electrically conductive switch blade 304 which is secured to a lug of insulation 306 extending from the panel. Screws 30B may be used to secure the blade to the lug. The bar 296, at diierent stages in the operation of the device may take the position of the broken line 295, which is the inactive position when the device is neither operating nor set to operate at a future time, or it may take the position of the broken line 291, which is the position when the device is set to begin operating at some future time but that time has not yet arrived.

The position in which the bar is shown in full lines is that assumed when the device has become fully operative. The switch comprising the end of the bar 296 and the blade 304 may be called the non-repeat switch and may be broadly designated by the numeral 299.

The other end of the bar 296 has secured thereto by rivets 3|0 an insulation strip 3|2. To the outer end of the insulation strip 3I2, an electrically conductive member 3|4 is held by the rivets 3|6. Member 3I4 has an upwardly extending tongue 3|8 adapted to be forced between the switch blades 320 and 322 to complete the electrical circuit between them. BrokenA lines 32| and 323 show the two other positions which the top end of the tongue 3| 8 may take during the different stages of the operation of the device.

The blades 320 and 322 are secured to the insulation lug 324 extending from the panel 20. Two other lugs 326 and 328 extend from the panel and are properly located to limit upward and downward movement respectively of the bar 296. The switch comprising the blades 328 and 322 and the tongue 3|8 may be broadly designated by the numeral 329.

A push rod 330 having a push button 332 at its upper end, is vertically slidable in bearings provided by bearing bosses 334 extending Iorwardly from the panel and bearing caps 336 se-` cured to the bosses by screws 338. A sleeve 340 of insulating material having a head 342 is secured to the lower end of the rod 330 by the pin 344. A collar 346 is held to the rod by a pin 348. A spring 360 pushes the rod 330 upwardly until its movement is arrested by engagement of the top end of sleeve 340 with the bottom of a. cap 336. l

A bell-crank comprising a hub 352 with one horizontally extending arm 354 and a downwardly depending arm 356 is fulcrumed on a screw stud 358 secured in a boss 360 extending from the panel. A spring 362 has one end hooked over a pin 364 in the panel and the other end through a hole in the arm 354, thereby normally keeping the arm 354 pressed against the head 342.

The downwardly depending arm 356 is rounded at the lower end. When the device is wholly inoperative and the bar 296 therefore in the position of the broken line 295, the rounded end of the arm 356 rests on a cam 366 formed on the upper edge of the bar. When the push button 332 is depressed to set the device for operation at some selected future time, the arm 356 is moved to the position shown by the broken line 368 where it is caught by the hook 310 formed at the end of the cam 366. The bar 296 is thus held in the position of the broken line 291 until relieved by means later described. The catch mechanism for first holding, then releasing the non-repeat switch, the parts of said mechanism being numbered 332 to 310, may be broadly designated by the numeral 31| (see Fig. 8).

A solenoid coil 312 is wound of relatively ne wire on a spool comprising an insulating tube 314 with a round lower head 316 and rectangular upper head 318. Screws 380 extend through holes in the upper head into tapped openings in a lug 382 extending from the panel.

A soft iron core 384 is vertically slidable in the tube 314. The lower end of core 384 is slotted to receive the connecting link 386. Pins 388 and 390 hingedly join the link to the core 384 and the bar 296 respectively.

Energization of the solenoid 312 draws the bar 296 to the full line position shown, and if the bell-cank arm 356 is hooked up in the position 368 when solenoid energization takes place, it will be released and allowed to return to its normal position. Upon de-energization of the solenoid, a spring 392 draws the bar 296 downwardly until the insulation strip 3|2 strikes the lug 328. The electro-magnetic mechanism comprising the parts numbered 312-390 may be broadly designated by the numeral 39|.

A boss 394 on the rear panel is internally threaded to receive the screw socket plug 396. The center terminal 398 and outer terminal 400 are connected by suitable conductors to appropriate points on the mechanism as will appear from the wiring diagram Fig. 9. The rectangular openings 402 and 404 are proportioned and positioned to receive the two prong plug on the cord of a radio receiving set. A. duplex cord 406 enters the back of the cabinet through a hole 406,

.the cord being then divided into two branches 4|0 and 4|2 and joined to proper terminals as seen in Fig. 9. The outer end of the cord 406 preferably is provided with a two prong plug (not shown) such as is universally used for plugging into a wall receptacle. When so connected the device is preferably plugged into a suitable receptacle and the radio receiver then plugged into the device. In the wiring diagram Fig. 9, a receiver is diagrammatlcally shown so connected, the receiver being numbered 4|4. yOther parts of the mechanism are given the same numerals where they are schematically illustrated in Fig. 9,

as they bear in Figs. 1 to 8. The operation of the device is as follows:

Operation The operation of the device may best be described by assuming definite periods of time beg tween which it is desired to operate a radio receiver. Let it be assumed then that a user of the device at some time during the day recalls that he desires to hear a program that will begin at 3:30 p. m. and will continue for fifteen minutes. He therefore desires to set the device so that the receiver will be turned on at 3:30 and oil' at 3:45 oclock.

To accomplish this, the knob 202 is turned until the pointer 203 points to three as shown in Fig'. 1. This will place the arm 206, Fig. 3, in the horizontal position there shown. The knob 232 is next turned until the pointer 233 is within the segment 239. Since the program is to last only fifteen minutes, the pointer is directed to the number i5 in the segment 239. This will place the arm 236, Fig. 3'. in the downwardly depending position there shown. The push button 332 is now depressed so that the arm 366 of the bellcrank is caught on the hook 310 leaving the bar 296 in the position 291. The device is now set to begin operation at three thirty oclock and to continue operation for fifteen minutes. It may be noted that with the bar 296 thus held in the position 291, the switch 329 is still open. that is, the blades 320 and 322 will not yet be connected by the tongue 3|6. Assume that the foregoing setting was made at eleven a. m.

At exactly three o'clock the roller 66 of the hour switch |0| (see Fig. 3) leaves the point |00 of the contact segment 59 and starts over the segment 60. No circuit of any kind is yet completed, however, until three thirty. at which time the roller |24 of the main quarter hour switch (see Fig. 4) leaves the point |00 of the contact segment |05 and strikes the segment |06.

A circuit is now completed (see Fig. 9) from the one side ofthe line 4|0, through arm 236, contacts 251, 256. 255, 254, 253. 252, member |06, blade |20, arm |02, arm 54, blade 92, arm 206, arm 266, solenoid coil 312, blade 304, bar 296, to the other side 4|2 of the line.

The instant the above circuit is established, the solenoid acts on the switch 329 and connects blades 320 and v322 through the tongue 3|8, and at the same time releases the arm 366 from the hook 310. The circuit through the solenoid 312 and the circuit through the receiver 4 |4 (see Fig. 9) will now continue in effect until the roller |24 of the main quarter hour switch |35 passes over and ofi' the end of the segment |06 which will occur after a. period of fifteen minutes has elapsed. When it occurs, the break in the circuit by the main quarter hour switch |36 will allow the solenoid to de-energize, whereupon the bar will take the position 295 and the tongue the position 323. The device will still be set to operate at three thirty for fifteen minutes but it Will not do so unless the button 332 is again depressed. If it were not for the fact that the operation included releasing the arm 356 from the hook 310 during each operating. period the device would repeat, not only at three thirty the next p. m. but also at three thirty a. m. which would, of course, be undesirable.

Suppose, however, that the desired. program had been of half hour instead of quarter hour duration, that is, to continue from three thirty to four ocloclr.` Y

The pointer 233 would then have been directed \to the numeral 30 in segment 239. This would have placed the arm 236 (see Fig. 3 or 9) in electrical communication with two contacts 256 and 264, which would have made two contact segments |06 and |01 of the main quarter switch |36 available for continuing the circuit through the arm |20. The circuit would then have continued while the arm |20 passed over the two quarter hour contact segments |06 and |01 which would have maintained the device in operation for thirty minutes, that is, from three thirty to four.

Thus far, no reason has appeared for the aux iliary quarter hour switch |63, comprising the blade |54 and contact segments |39 to |42, nor for the magnetically operated switch 329, comprising the blades 320 and 322 and the tongue 3|9. 'Ihe described operation of the mechanism for the period of three thirty to three forty-five, and the described operation for three thirty to four, was accomplished independently and without the aid of these switches. Their function may be made apparent by another example.

Assume that it is desired to make the device cperate from three thirty to four fifteen, that is, for a period of forty-iive minutes. The pointer 233 will be directed to the numeral forty-fivein the segment 239. It will be recalled that when the pointer is directed to any number within the segment 239, operation will begin at half after the hour, and will continue for the number of minutes represented by the numeral indicated by the pointer.

If then the pointer is directed to forty five in the segment 239, the arm 236 (see Fig. 3 or 9) will be in electrical communication with the three contacts 259, 265, and 212. This will connect the contact segments |06 and |01 of the main quarter hour switch I 35 in the circuit through the roller |24 of the switch and arm 236 of the control for two quarter hour periods. It will also connect the contact segment |42 of the auxiliary quarter hour switch |63 'through the roller |56 of the switch, the arrn 236 of the control, the switch 329, and the solenoid 312. This latter circuit through the auxiliary quarter hour switch |63 is quite independent of the circuits through the hour switch |0| and main quarter hour switch |35.

With the setting for operation from three thirty to four fifteen thus selected, the push button 332 is depressed to cause the hook 310 to catch the arm 366. At three oclock the roller 96 ofthe hour switch |0| drops on to the segment 60. No circuit is yet completed. At three thirty the roller |24 of the main quarter hour switch |35 drops to the segment |06. Operation will now continue for half an hour while the segments I 06 and |01 are traversed by the roller |24. At the end of this halfA hour of operation the roller 88 of the hour switch will drop ofi the end of the segment 60 and all circuits through either the hour switch |0| or the main quarter hour switch |35 will be open,

While the roller |24 was thus traversing the two quarter hour segments |06 and |01, the roiler |58 of the auxiliary quarter hour switch was passing over the unconnected segments |40 and |4|.

Therefore at the instant, or preferably a few seconds before the roller |24 drops o of the segment |01, the roller |58 will drop onto the segment |42 thereby continuing the operation of the device for an additional quarter hour period. Thus two quarter hour periods were effected through the switches |0| and |35 and the third quarter hour period through the switch |83. Operation therefore was for forty-five minutes.

When the clock turns the three switches to a position where neither maintains a circuit the solenoid will be de-energized and operation will discontinue. If the manual control knobs are not moved, the program may be repeated at the same hour by merely depressing the push button 332 at some time prior to three thirty of the clock.

A still more intricate series of actions takes place when the device is set, for instance, to play from nine forty-five to ten forty-five. First the hour knob is turned to direct the pointer 203 to the numeral 9. This will place the arm 208, Fig. 3, over the contact 2|8. The quarter hour knob is then turned to direct the pointer 233 to the numeral 60 of the segment 24|. This will place the arm 236, Fig. 3, over the four contacts 280, 216, 210, and 219. If the push button 332 is now depressed, the device is set to operate from nine yforty-five to ten forty-five.

When nine oclock is reached, the hour switch roller 86 drops on to the segment 66. No circuit is yet completed, and none will be completed until forty-five minutes have elapsed whereupon the main quarter hour switch roller |24 drops onto the segment |01.

A circuit is then established through the segment |01 for a quarter hour period only, at the end of which period the hour switch roller 8B drops off of the segment 66 and all circuits through the hour switch |0| and main quarter hour switch |35 are open. In the meantime the roller |58 of the auxiliary switch |83 has moved around to a position where it has just dropped on to the segment |42 several seconds before the circuit through the switches |0| and |35 were opened. For the next three quarter hour periods, the circuit is maintained through the segments |42, |39, and |40. The operation in this case will be one quarter hour through the switches I0| and |35 and the other three quarters hour through the switch |83.

While the foregoing mechanism is perhaps best adapted for operating a radio receiver, it will be apparent that it may be employed to operate any electrical device which a user desires to be turned on at a preselected future time and off after a selected period of time of operation has elapsed, and while the present embodiment is adapted to operate for selected quarter hour periods, obviously anyone skilled in the art may adapt it to any fractional hour period within reason. Other embodiments of the invention not outside the spirit thereof will come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, two line conductors, a set of twelve hour conductors, hour selective means for connecting one line conductor to any one of the twelve hour conductors, a common terminal, clock operated means for consecutively connecting the twelve hour conductors to the common terminal in twelve hours, a set of four quarter hour conductors, a second clock operated means for connecting the common terminal to the four quarter hour conductors consecutively in one hour, and quarter hour selective means adapted to be moved to different positions to connect either one, two, three, or four of the quarter hour conductors to the other line conductor, whereby a circuit is completed between the line conductors whenever the first clock operated means has one of the hour conductors connected to the common terminal and the second clock operated means has one of the quarter hour conductors connected to the common terminal.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 with a. nonrepeat switch series connected in the circuit, resilient means urging the switch to open position, manual means for moving said switch to a closed position, a catch to hold the'switch to closed position, and electromagnetic means including a coil series connected in the circuit and operative to release said catch and itself hold the switch closed until said clock operated means opens the circuit, then release said switch to be moved to open position by said resilient means.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, first and second line conductors, a set of twelve hour conductors, hour selective means for connecting the first line conductor to any one of the twelve hour conductors, a common terminal, clock operated means for consecutively connecting the twelve hour conductors to the common terminal in a period of twelve hours, a set comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth quarter hour conductor, a second clock operated means for connecting the common terminal of the first, second, third, and fourth quarter hour conductors consecutively within each hour, a second set comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth quarter hour conductor, a second common terminal connected to the first line conductor, a third clock operated means for connecting the second common terminal consecutively to the first, second, and third quarter hour conductors of the second quarter hour set in a period of three quarters of an hour, and quarter hour selective means to connect the second line conductor to one quarter hour conductor or to groups of two, three or four quarter hour conductors.

4. 'I'he structure defined in claim 3 wherein the quarter hour selective means is such that part of the quarter hour conductors in a group selected may be in the first set and the remainder in the second set, whereby any group starting with such a conductor of the first quarter hour set as leaves insufficient quarter hour conductors for the desired group, from the starting point to the next even hour period, will be completed with conductors of the second set.

5. The structure defined in claim 3 with switch mechanism comprising a series switch in the first line conductor, resilient means urging said switch to open position, manual means for moving said switch to closed position, a catch to hold the switch to the closed position, an electromagnet including a series coil in the nrst line conductor operative to energize said electromagnet and release said catch and thereafter hold said switch closed magnetically until said clock operated means opens the circuit, then release said switch to be moved to open position by said resilient means, and a second series switch in that part of the first line conductor which extends to the second common conductor, adapted to be held closed by said electromagnetic means only as long as it remains energized.

6. The combination, in a device of the character described, of a twelve contact clock operated hour switch, a main four contact clock operated quarter hour switch. a conductor connectlng the common points of the said hour switch and main quarter hour switches. an auxiliary four contact clock operated quarter hour switch, first and second line conductors of opposite polarity. the first being connected to the common point of the aunxillary quarter hour switch, hour selective means to connect the first line conductor to one of the twelve contacts on the hour switch, quarter hour selective means to connect the second line conductor to one or to a selected group not exceeding four consecutive contacts which may comprise all contacts of the main quarter hour switch or part from the main and part from the auxiliary quarter hour switch.

'7. The combination in a timing device of a clock operated hour switch having a first common terminal connectable to twelve terminals consecutively within twelve hours, a clock operated main fractional hour switch having the same first common terminal connectable to a series of. fractional hour terminals consecutively within one hour, an auxiliary clock operated fractional hour switch having a second common terminal connectable to a series of fractional hour terminals consecutively within one hour, an hour selective device comprising a third common termmal selectively connectable to twelve terminals said twelve terminals being in electrical communication respectively-with the twelve terminals of the hour switch, a first line conductor comprising a main part and two branches in parallel, the rst branch being connected to the third common terminal and the second branch to the second common terminal, and a fractional hour selective device comprising a fourth common terminal connectable selectively to groups of fractional hour terminals of the main fractional hour switch and the auxiliary fractional hour switch, and a second line conductor in electrical communication with the fourth common terminal.

8. 'I'he structure defined inclaixn '7, with control switch mechanism comprising a series control switch in the main part of the first line conductor, a second series control switch in the second branch of. the first line conductor, resilient means urging both control switches to an open position, an electromagnet adapted when ener gized to hold both control switches in the closed position, a coil on said electromagnet series connected in the main part of the first line conductor, manual means to move the rst control switch to closed position, and a catch for holding the first control switch in the closed position when manually closed, said electromagnetic means being operative when energized to iirst release said catch. then magnetically hold both control switches closed until deenergized.

9. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein the clock operated switches and the hour and fractional hour selective devices comprise circular rows of terminals connectable by rotatable conductive elements in electrical communication with, and swingable around the said common terminals.

10. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein the clock operated switches comprise circular rows of terminals connectable by rotatable conductive elements in electrical communication with, and swingable around, the said common terminals, and the terminals of the circular rows are each individually adjustable to advance or retard the break with the rotating element.

WALTER. A. FARRELL. NORMAN R.. WILLIAMS. DAVID M. CALIHAN. 

